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Dreamstime

123RF

Depositphotos

Software ComparisonDreamstime vs 123RF vs Depositphotos

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Depositphotos

Free Trial Availability

Dreamstime

Photography

123RF

Photography

No Free Trial Available.

Depositphotos

Photography

Cloudswave Editorial Review

Dreamstime

Photography

Dreamstime Review by Cloudswave

Every company needs a website. Most should probably have a blog too. In either case, it should go without saying that neither is going to do very well with an online audience if they feature nothing more than a bunch of words. In fact, this is probably impossible to find these days for how poor they’d do when it comes to attract visitors.

The Problem with Finding Images for Your Website

That being said, you may still find some websites that don’t have great images or probably should have a lot more to really make their online presence pop. Whatever the situation, the source for this problem is most likely the same: the owners of the site have found out that buying images is expensive.

Unbeknownst to many, you can’t simply jump on a Google search and use whatever images show up for your needs. This is how you get in serious trouble. Someone could end up suing you for copyright infringement and bringing your business to a halt.

Unfortunately, a lot of people only see two alternatives. First, they can try taking pictures themselves. This is usually impractical, to say the least. Most people lack the photography skills this approach would need and, even if they had them, they wouldn’t have access or the time it would take to capture the photos they want.

The other option is where things get expensive, but the majority of website owners don’t know of an alternative. They eventually decide to buy stock photos from companies that sell them. To be fair, these websites tend to offer a wide range of photos, making it an attractive prospect for people and companies from just about every industry.

It’s the cost that becomes a problem. These services can easily run in the hundreds of dollars a month or even more, depending on the volume of photos you need.

Enter, Dreamstime

Don’t worry, though. There’s good news. Dreamstime has made it possible for everyone to get the photos they need without having to spend a small fortune in the process. We’re talking about truly stunning, high-quality photos too, nothing you’d expect to get at a bargain price or even for free.

In fact, with Dreamstime, you can find a number of really great images for your website or blog and not spend a single penny. Their free images category features the following sections:

Abstract

Arts and Architecture

Animals

Illustrations and Clipart

Business

Industries

IT and C

Objects

Nature

Technology

Travel

People

Web Design Graphics

There are thousands upon thousands under these categories that are completely free and can be used whenever you like. Below each picture, you’ll find both the person who made it and its dimensions too.

Paid Images

You’ll find images for sale on this site as well. Like you’d expect, these pictures are usually of a bit higher quality. The same categories are represented though, meaning you’re not losing any options. In fact, there are far more to choose from.

Even though you’re paying for them, you’ll notice that the pictures on Dreamstime are a lot more affordable than those you might find elsewhere. It’s not even close how much you’ll save by getting your website’s pictures here. Those who have been spending large sums will be quite surprised by what you have to choose from when you switch over.

It’s important to remember, too, that a lot of these are royalty-free images. What this means for you is that you only have to purchase them once and then you can use them over and over again. Obviously, with most photography deals, you’d have to continue paying for the right to use the image every time you decided to display it. This isn’t the case where Dreamstime is concerned. While some limitations apply at a certain point, it’s virtually impossible to hit that number (redistribution is the only exception).

For those images that do come with royalties, you’ll be told ahead of time, long before you pay for or try using the picture.

Refund Policy

Another thing that really stands out about Dreamstime is that they actually give refunds for any photo you buy and then change your mind about. This is extremely rare. Most companies worry that you’ll simply go ahead and use the image anyway, so they have very strict rules about all sales being final.

However, a number of Dreamstime users have reported a very pleasant process when they made a mistake with their purchase. Some people simply don’t know if an image will work until they download it and try placing it on their site or in their blog. Other times, it may be a simple mistake of accidentally pressing “download” when you really didn’t mean to. In either case, you don’t have to worry that such a simple error is going to cost you. The team at Dreamstime will simply ask that you delete the image.

Ordering from Dreamstime

Ordering your images is extremely easy, which is another reason to love Dreamstime. If you’ve tried getting your hands on high-quality pictures before, then you probably learned the hard way that this can take weeks and weeks.

With Dreamstime, as long as you’re registered, all you have to do is pretty much point and click. As we mentioned above, there may be another step or two with pictures that come with royalties, but otherwise, that’s about it. Again, the return policy is incredibly easy too, for those who get a bit trigger happy.

You don’t have to register with Dreamstime to grab the free photos, but it’s recommended that you still do so anyway. For one thing, it’s absolutely free to do and, for another, you’ll get a look at the reduced prices you’re privy too by going this route.

Every website needs great images, but not all of us can afford the high prices that these typically demand. On Dreamstime, you’ll find some truly amazing photos at very affordable prices. Many of you could probably outfit your entire website for the rest of your lives and never spend a time because of Dreamstime.

123RF

Depositphotos

Most Favorable User Review

Dreamstime

Photography

10

turboclean

May 27, 2014

I love Dreamstime. It is an awesome place to find royalty free images

123RF

Photography

9

Steven Lewis

May 6, 2016

With a corporate account, you can set up team members. This gives you the ability, as the admin, to assign credits, move credits and delete credits from each team member. You can also track credit usage for each member. This is helpful to track costs of the images you are purchasing for your projects. They allow a "Comp" download before you buy an image so you can try it out to make sure it will fit your needs before you purchase.

Pros :

With a corporate account, you can set up team members. This gives you the ability, as the admin, to assign credits, move credits and delete credits from each team member. You can also track credit usage for each member.

They allow a "Comp" download before you buy an image so you can try it out to make sure it will match with your needs before you purchase.

They also have audio and footage for your projects as well.

They also let you chose the size and quality you are looking for at different price points.

The corporate account allows you to buy bulk credit at discounts.

Their team is there to help you search and answer licensing questions you may have.

You have a "lightbox" that allows you to save images, footage, audio too so when you are searching and find files you like you can save them and go back to them for easy downloading or comparing later without having to redo a search.

When you find an image you like but not quite what you are looking for, they have a feature that allows you to browse similar images. Also, if you find an image with a model you like, you can also browse fro more images with that model or even that particular photographer.

Cons :

Images are not exclusive so others can download and use them as well.

You still need to make sure you select the correct licensing level you need before you download.

Many images are not categorized correctly so you do get some images in your searches that are not relevant to what you are looking for. andnbsp;

Depositphotos

Photography

10

Maryna Bondarenko

Oct 29, 2015

Depositphotos have been online for 6 years already. For now it has a huge photos, vector illustrations and footage collection. From the very beginning, they had tried to attract the best photographers. They even initially paid $0.20 for the first photos just after they were accepted (not sold!). The photographer's income depends on the sale type and on his rank. If the client bought the subscription, the price for the single photo would be less, than if he uses the credits. Despite of the fact that Depositphotos promotes the subscription many clients still use the credits, so you may be often pleasantly surprised by the sold photos' price. Moreover the customer sometimes gets the bonus with the sold photo. In this case even the bonus photo owner gets his income. Usually photographer gets from 44% to 52% from the sold photo, depending on his rank. The minimum withdrawal amount is only $50, so it is possible to make the quick money in short terms. There is detailed statistics where you can see which photos are viewed and sold best. There is also the feedback system for the customers. E.g. every person who bought your photo may leave you a message with the new photo requests. This increases the number of sales in the future. The other advantage of Depositphotos is helpful staff. If you are a photographer with the good portfolio on other stock photo sites, they will do their best to help you with uploading your photos and categorize them. There is the Live chat available. Uploading of images is very convenient. It is not necessarily to enter the category and keywords for each photo, you can use data from previous images. The photo reviewers are not very picky, and the photos are reviewed quite fast.

Most Favorable Critic Review

Dreamstime

Photography

75

Anonymous contribution , Photo Buyer Guide

Monday 25 April 2011

It has to be said that Dreamstime offers its customers two options that are not available anywhere else. The first is availability of RAW-files for photos (not applicable to all files), and the second iscopyright buyout, which means that a particular image or photo will not be sold to any other user except you

123RF

Photography

75

Anonymous contribution , Buy MicroStock

Wednesday 31 December 1969

The key factor behind the success of 123RF is the low price offered to the buyers making it affordable for all irrespective buyers go through one-time purchase or subscription program channel. The website’s rewards program is a big temptation for its active users. Instead designers who are hunting for wide variety of original images.

Depositphotos

Photography

100

Anonymous contribution , Buy MicroStock

Wednesday 31 December 1969

Whether you’re a designer looking to buy images for a project or a photographer selling your stock, DepositPhotos make sit all very easy. Low pricing and flexible purchase plans make it easy to buy exactly what you need instead of just what you can afford and generous commission structures give contributors enormous earning potential.

Most Unfavorable Critic Review

Dreamstime

Photography

59

Anonymous contribution , TopTenReviews

Wednesday 31 December 1969

Dreamstime is an underrated stock photography service that deserves more exposure than its getting. The free image feature is something no one else in this category offers, which is reason enough for you to check them out. They might not have the reputation and hype of their more prestigious competitors, but they're getting there.

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